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For Marc Marquez, the Aragon track can undoubtedly represent an honest chance to win his first Grand Prix riding the Ducati. The Motorland has always been one of his favorite tracks, but this season there is one variable to consider that may prove decisive and that is the new asphalt track surface, which is likely to profoundly alter the grip available. An element that will put the riders in front of a complex choice, because strategy may prove to be one of the most important factors in thinking about getting on the podium.
Marc also knows he has to score a lot of points to try to stay close to the three riders ahead of him in the overall standings, namely Bagnaia, Martìn and Bastianini. Compared to Pecco, his gap is now 83 points and it is hard to imagine that Marc can still be considered a serious contender for the title. But instead there are only 22 points separating him from Bastianini, making the world championship podium the only realistic goal for Marc at this point in the season.
"When we come to a circuit that I like and on which I've been strong in the past, everyone says I'm the favorite - were Marc's words - But this is the present and I know that by having a really perfect weekend, maybe I have a chance to fight with the best, the ones who are really on form today. In Austria I was close, I felt really close and I think it was the weekend when I had the most confidence with the bike. Let's see how FP1 starts, it will be crucial."
So you think you can win here?
"Yes, if I find the pace right away I think I could be there."
We are now over halfway through the season, where do you feel you are in your learning process on the Ducati?
"I would say that in the first part of the season I had to build something with the bike, with the team. Now I feel great with the guys, with the bike. Maybe on some tracks we come and suffer and I know it can happen again on other tracks, but I also know I have the possibility to improve everywhere. Then there are tracks where I feel fast from the start and on those I try to fight with the fastest guys, but you need to be perfect. My goal is to fight for the podium and then maybe think about the win. If it doesn't come this year, I know it will certainly have a better chance next year."
How do you see the start of the 2025 season from Thailand?
"I think it's a good decision, because right now almost all the Asian races are concentrated at the same time of the season. Eventually, always around October and November. I think racing there even at the beginning of the year is a good thing because we know those are the most interesting markets for the manufacturers, so I think it's good to split the races in Asia between the beginning and the end of the season."
Aragon is a particular track, do you think you will start with a different set-up than usual?
"I would say we will not start with a different setup than usual. Each rider has his own style for the engine brake, I have a particular style and I need a particular set-up for this component, so that's the aspect we work on most at the beginning. I hope the basic set-up we have now works well here."
With all these left turns, do you think you have an advantage?
"The goal is not to lose to the best guys in the right-hand corners and then gain in the left-hand ones! But of course everyone is fast, even at Sachsenring where all the corners are on the left, everyone was very fast. We need to understand what my level is tomorrow and also what the level of our opponents is. Certainly racing on a track I like is a help, I say that because I know I can get on track and get to the limit sooner. However, I must not forget that so far this season I have yet to win a race. It is necessary to keep working hard to have this chance on Sunday or in the next races."
You have been training a lot with David Alonso lately, how is he doing?
"David Alonso is a sponge. He's young, he's talented. I tell him something at the beginning of the day, I give him a suggestion and you see that at the end of the day he becomes faster than me in something. Every time we train together he gives his best effort and that's something I really enjoy. In my career I've raced a lot, I've won a lot. But in any case I often have this need to feel this so strong spirit of a young rider, training to the limit even when it's over 40 degrees. It gives me that extra boost that I need."
In Japan they tried to race GT cars and SBK on the same weekend, selling out. Do you think we will see something like that in the future with MotoGP and F1?
"From a technical point of view I see it as complicated. When F1 runs on a track it leaves a lot of rubber residue, it would become complicated. I think MotoGP is a sport that is able to sell out at every single event. I think a lot of good work is being done in this paddock, so I think we have to continue on this path to succeed at every race."
